This is the online version of the From the Politics Deska daily newsletter that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC Political News team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.
On today’s show, Bridget Bowman sends a message from Texas about how the makeup of the final Democratic primary for Senate is developing. Also, Andrea Mitchell examines President Donald Trump’s options on Iran.
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– Adam Wollner
Democrats want to fight. In Texas, they are divided over who – and who – to fight next.
Written by Bridget Bowman
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Democrats may be divided over whether Rep. James Talarico or US Rep. Jasmine Crockett he should be a member of their party in the Senate. But they agree on one thing: They are eager to fight.
And whoever wins next week’s Senate primary will provide clues about how Democrats want to go about it — and who they want to focus on.
When Talarico spoke to hundreds of supporters packed into an event center last week in North Austin, one of his loudest applause came as he addressed his fellow Democrats.
“If you hate politics and you’ve never voted before, you have a place in this campaign. If you voted for Democrats but you’re tired of the DC Democrats, you have a place in this campaign,” he said.
“And if you voted Donald Trump but you are fed up with the fanaticism and corruption in our government, you have a place in this campaign,” he added.
A few days later, Crockett spoke to about 200 supporters gathered at the City Cathedral Church in Conroe, where he criticized his party for trying too hard to woo Republicans in 2024.
“I’m not saying that Republicans aren’t welcome, because the battles I’m fighting are for everybody,” Crockett said. “But I also think it’s only true that the Democratic base is doubling down and saying, ‘I’m a Democrat, and I’m going to fight for those principled things like raising wages,’ that help everybody, right?” he said.
Talarico and Crockett offered competing views for the Democratic Party as it looks for a path after Trump’s defeat in 2024 — and as Democrats try to win their first statewide race in Texas in more than 30 years.
One is looking to empower voters in political organizations to fight against the “corrupt” political and economic system. One appears to be empowering Democrats’ core supporters in the fight against Trump. And interviews with nearly 30 Democratic voters in Texas in recent days reveal that they are still divided about which path to follow and which will lead to victory in November.
Learn more about the host, Bridget
🗳️More from Texas: Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed against his Texas Republican counterpart in Congress, supporting Rep. Steve Toth over Rep. Dan Crenshaw ahead of next week’s election, reports Ben Kamisar.
TK
When Trump leaves here in Iran
Analysis by Andrea Mitchell
The president Donald TrumpThe longest State of the Union speech ever at 1 hour and 47 minutes. But he spent only four minutes explaining his wisdom in deciding to use the unconventional weapon he has assembled in the region against Iran.
And those who interviewed him, the son-in-law Jared Kushner and ambassador Steve Witkoffas he is expected to hold what could be critical Iran talks in Geneva tomorrow, Trump said last night about Iran’s alleged nuclear program, “We’re done, and they want to start over and, at this moment, they’re pursuing their evil desires. … They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.”
He continued, “My preference is to resolve this problem through dialogue, but one thing is certain, I will never allow the number 1 sponsor of terrorism in the world, by far, to have a nuclear weapon.” Iran denounced his comments as “big lies.”
Last weekend, Witkoff said Iran was “about a week away from having 60% of its industrial-grade bomb-making material” — a dangerous threshold. Neither he nor Trump explained the conflict with Trump’s claim immediately after the US hit Iran in June that the US had “destroyed” its nuclear program.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has long maintained that it has a strong right to a peaceful nuclear program. But after Trump withdrew in 2018 from the multilateral agreement that was negotiated Barack ObamaUnder the presidency, Iran later began enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, according to the United Nations agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
US officials have never fully explained what happened to Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium in the bombings. Days later, Trump said at a NATO summit that the bombs buried the peaks “30 stories down.” And he said the US had “hit them so hard” that Iran had no time to move its stocks. However, the Director of the IAEA Rafael Grossi he said his agency had warnings that Iran might move it to another location in Iran before the US invaded.
Last night, Trump first accused Iran of another scandal – “working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.” NBC News reported today that the Defense Intelligence Agency expects that Iran could develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched into space 10 years from now if it decides to develop such a program.
Yesterday, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe inform Congress’ top national security leaders about Iran. It is not known whether they were given classified information about a possible Iranian ICBM decision.
If talks fail, Trump is expected to target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is believed to have killed tens of thousands of protesters. Arab countries told NBC News that they are urging Trump in the event of a US strike to protect them – and the 40,000 US troops in the region – by reducing Iran’s missile program. Sen. Lindsey GrahamRS.C., insists on taking the most difficult step: the overthrow of the Iranian regime.
Although Rubio told the Senate recently that Iran’s regime is weaker than ever, he said replacing Tehran’s entrenched government will be difficult. It is widely seen as a major challenge, requiring a long, sustained campaign given the chaos that could follow.
🗞️ Some of today’s top stories
- 🚨 Top stories: Cuban officials said a Florida-registered speedboat had breached their territorial waters and engaged in a skirmish with Cuban border troops in which four people on board were killed. Read more →
- 📝 Epstein’s story: The Justice Department has not released summaries and notes of three FBI interviews conducted with a South Carolina woman who alleged she was a victim of sexual harassment by Jeffrey Epstein and made allegations of sexual harassment against Trump, according to an NBC News analysis of Epstein files and information provided by a source familiar with the investigation. Read more →
- 🗳️ Vote for the watch: A senior official of the Department of Public Security said while appealing to state election officials that immigration agents will not be seen at polling stations this year. Read more →
- 🎤 In the hot seat: Dr. Casey Said faced tough questions from lawmakers at a confirmation hearing as Trump’s surgeon general about his stance on vaccines, contraception and the use of antidepressants during pregnancy. Read more →
- ➡️ Fall of SOTU: Trump said that Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan should be sent back “where they came from” after they booed him during his State of the Union address. Read more →
- 🗣️ Person to person: In an unusual meeting during the partial government shutdown that affects his organization, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met with Rep. Delia RamirezD-Ill., this afternoon. Ramirez’s office said he is pushing for a change in tactics from immigration agents. Read more →
- ☑️ On the docket: A lawyer. Nancy MaceRS.C., plans to force the House to vote next week on its resolution to release reports of misconduct and harassment involving members of Congress. Read more →
- 📰 Building Four: A federal magistrate judge revoked the Trump administration’s ability to examine information obtained from a Washington Post reporter last month. Read more →
That’s all from the Politburo for now. Today’s newsletter is compiled by Adam Wollner.
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